Almost 4 Weeks Post Op

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spinningman

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Jul 19, 2009
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I just had an appointment with my surgeon and he felt I was doing very well. He said I am doing better than 95% of his patients. I started outpatient therapy the same day. I was given exercises for my quads, hamstrings and knee. I can go to my gym and ride the bike(tough first time) and do the leg press machine for my repaired leg,

I still have stiffness but can walk around the the block, about 1/4 mile.. Sleeping is getter better about 5 hours straight. I am only taking tylenol as Oxycontin really messed me up.

Here's my question:
Physical therapist said I don't have to come back unless I want to. I was shocked. The PT didn't give me a plan. It was just here's the exercises. Now I am a fitness trainer and am disciplined. But I want to measure my progress by a professional. Am I asking too much of physical therapy to help me with my recovery and progress?

Please let me know.
 
Isn't that their job? I would want a PT to measure progress and also to notice problems (if any) should they arise
 
Hi spinningman,
Our Physio regime is slightly different to that in the US, but I was progressing well and was turned loose reasonably early, with the invitation from the Physio to make an appointment any time I felt I needed help.
I have been back for quick checks of progress and measurements of ROM since. 5-10 minutes between other patients.

Ask if you can come back for checks, even once a month could be helpful for you.
 
I was released from PT 2 weeks ago and I am now using their gym to continue to get my knees better on my own. My PT told me at any time if he's not busy he will measure me and check my progress. So just ask your PT if you can do that? No harm in asking. If you don't feel like you are ready to be on your own, tell your PT you need more sessions. Just make sure you continue your routine whether it be at the gym, PT or home.
 
I went to PT ling enough to find out what I needed to do and went home and did it myself a few people on here did that is ok as long as you keep up with it glad you had a good report thats terrific.............)
 
I had no PT whatsoever. Just simple exercises. I think the PT is over-rated and provided you are motivated - which you are - you're going to end up with an efficent knee with plenty of ROM. Don't angst on numbers! It's what you can do that counts!
 
The bottom line is you need to do what feels right for YOU. If you want the contact with a therapist now and then, the idea about checking in once a month would seem to be a good approach to me. But as several have said, once you learn the exercises, you can do them on your own. You'll know when you're improving because you will be able to do more and more things and your knee will be more comfortable.

Most of us gain ROM for at least a year after surgery....in small amounts at a time. You are still so very early in your recovery process. From your comments, I'm wondering if you are thinking you should be farther along than you are. Please don't make that mistake....healing from a knee replacement takes time. Your body cannot be rushed and it will heal at its own pace. Allow yourself the luxury of proper healing from this very major surgery. It will come.
 
I'm not a physical trainer but I'm a former marathon runner who is very disciplined about exercise. I had about 2 months of PT before mine set me loose. At that point I had already begun transitioning the PT exercises which are relatively standard, simple exercises, to the machines at the gym. I told him what I was doing and asked about some of the exercises I did before the TKR; he approved some, made suggestions how to use equipment for others and suggested I NOT do some exercises I did before. Truthfully I liked having the PT also but not so much to chart progress as to just supervise and keep me from doing too much. You as a physical trainer know how the body works and what stimuli muscles need. PT for a longer period is really only necessary for people who aren't going to work on their own and who have never worked out at a gym. You might go back to your PT with your exercise plan, incorporating balance stuff like single leg step ups or raising and lowering on a stair step with weights in your hands as you progress etc. You can adapt most of what you already know to work on balance (alternating lunges, for example when doing some of the chest work or standing on alternating legs as you do alternating bicep curls with free weights etc.) You really don't need to measure your ROM; you can see your own progress as you pull your leg back toward your butt every day etc. You will see your stride lengthen as your leg strenghens and there are all kinds of ways you already know to chart your progress. The PT is like a security blanket and nice to have, but they can't justify keeping you as a patient to insurance if you have progressed enough to continue on your own. After the first few months when you make progress by leaps and bounds, the rest of your rehab is slower and not so measurable -- until one day you realize you can do something without thought that you couldn' do 2 or 3 months ago. So don't feel abandoned; you know more than most people what to do for yourself. And at my gym I see trainers training each other -- so you might try that if you need a little extra motivation. Just be sure you work with someone who understands you're still recovering from a really serious operation which takes a lot out of you physically. You'll do great!!!
Stephani
 
I too am working out at the gym and am on month 5 after my TKR. I was getting frustrated at my PT because my ROM didn't seem to be rising too quickly. ( I was at 112 when I left). I had 2 1/2 months of it and then my doctor told me that if all it was doing was frustrating me then I should not do it anymore. I talked to my PT and they gave me gym exercises to do. I am now doing all those PT exercises at home as well as going to the gym and using the machines. I discovered from talking to so many people that I was just too impatient. Josephine the moderator here, gave me great advice when I told her I was just taking Vicadin to take the edge off once a day. She said to take more pain pills along with the vicadin so that I would never be in pain. Great advice!! I am now doing that and it is amazing how much better I feel and can bend my knee and walk with a better stride because it doesn't hurt. When I started at the gym 1 1/2 months ago I was just using the leg press with no weight and only walking 4 laps on the track. I am now up to 30 lbs on the leg press and 1 1/2 miles on the track as well as 1 mile on the stationary bike and 1 mile on the elliptical. I talke a pain pill about 1 hour before the gym and I feel good. Today I am starting with a trainer who is experienced in rehab so that I can keep my progress going. I still have a long way to go but every day I do see a little bit of progress. If you have read my other posts I was also on a dynasplint for 12 weeks. I think the only thing is that this takes time - a lot of it as well as a lot of patience. Good luck.
 
Wonderful! Cactus, you just made my day!
 
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